The gesture feels a lot less special when you realize you’re the one who paid for it.

So, what would you do if friends who still owed you money surprised you with a fancy birthday dinner and only afterward explained how they paid for it? Would you smile and just thank them? Or would you call them out for the trick they just pulled?

In the following story, one woman finds herself in this situation and can’t help but speak up. Here’s what happened.

AITA for feeling like I paid for my own birthday event?

A couple of months ago, we (a group of 5 girls) went on a 30th birthday trip for my best friend, Anna. I didn’t know the other three ladies very well, but we had a fantastic time!

The only major hiccup was that the hotel we’d all pitched in on was awful. I’m talking mold, a dangerous neighborhood, and weird stains on the bed.

Anna was crying, everyone was upset, and I offered to book a nicer hotel so we didn’t have to call the trip off. I okayed the price with everyone and even used a bunch of travel points to knock down the price.

The other four women owed her money.

Basically, everyone was going to owe me around $150. It’s been two months, and everyone has refused to pay me back or talk about it. Noting that I have a nice corporate job and they’re more broke and “just can’t right now.”

I decided it wasn’t worth pitching a fit over $600.

Fast forward, it was just my 30th birthday. Out of nowhere, they offered to take me out to a nice dinner! I’m recently divorced, so honestly, the offer felt fun and really lovely, and I said I’d love to.

Then, she found out, it was her money.

We went somewhere fancy, which shocked me given what they’d implied about finances, but they picked the spot.

We had a great time, they ordered a lot of wine and fancy appetizers. I had my dinner and one glass of wine for reference.

At the end, I offered to pitch in on the check because I’m sure it’s high. They giddily said that they’ve got it because they decided a while ago to surprise me by basically using the money they owed me to take me out instead.

Here’s where she may have said something wrong.

I didn’t really know what to say, and probably said the wrong thing.

I basically said, “Oh… so I paid for everyone for my birthday dinner?”

They got frustrated, saying no, it was their money, but yes, technically it was the money they owed me, and what an ungrateful thing to bring up. We’re not talking now.

AITA?

Wow! There’s no wonder she’s so upset about this.

Let’s see what advice the readers over at Reddit have to offer.

This person is on her side.

Yet another person who thinks she was right to speak up.

For this person, they don’t get to choose how to spend her money.

Exactly!

It’s time for new friends, because hers are something else! They should make this up and pay her what they owe.

If you liked this post, you might want to read this story about a teacher who taught the school’s administration a lesson after they made a sick kid take a final exam.